Another Day in the Death of America: A Chronicle of Ten Short Lives

Born in Great Britain to Barbadian parents, Guardian journalist Gary Younge (The Speech: The Story Behind Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream) lived in the United States for more than a decade (2003-2015) and became a parent during that time. His struggle to understand the nation's gun culture intensified as he also discovered the increased likelihood of gun violence affecting black children like his own. Another Day in the Death of America is a result of his interest in the disturbingly neglected fact that seven children, on average, die each day in the U.S. because of gun violence.

Younge researches the gun deaths of children that he is able to identify--10 total--during the arbitrarily chosen 24 hours from 3:57 a.m. on November 23, 2013, to 3:30 a.m. on November 24, 2013. Through public documents, news reports and interviews with friends and family members, he tells the stories of these victims, aged nine to 19, who perished without national attention.

The gripping power of Another Day in the Death of America radiates from Younge's compassion and thoroughness. The book is steeped in relevant statistics and background, but never loses sight of the human element. In fact, Younge pointedly emphasizes the need to cease viewing some victims as "angels" and others as deserving of their fate. While his role as a father enhances his empathy, his outsider status enables him to look at the role of guns without the unusual biases some Americans have. Heartbreaking, compelling and inspiring, this is a strong voice for the victims of many devastatingly silent, daily tragedies. --Jen Forbus, freelancer

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